Grain-sorting machine



Feb. 26, 1929. A 1,703,342

' R. v JuDsoN GRAIN VsoR'lrI'm-f MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4^ Qriginall Filed July l, .1920

Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNrrED ls'iAJr-rs RUSSELL V. J'UI'ISVON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN-somme MACHINE'.

Application ledJ'uly 1, 1920, Serial No..393,385. Renewed February 5, `1927;

This application is in certain respects a continuation of my Patent No. 1,366,665,1issued January 25, 1921, but includes improvements .and modification of thek structure therein shown. The purpose of this invention is to provide a machine for mechanically and auto-y Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a' machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan'view of the same with certain parts shown insection.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation ofthe bearings for the outer ends of one pair ofr sorting rolls together with the roll cover and discharge spout associated therewith. y

Fig. 4 is a detail section as indicated at line f4 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken through a pair of picking rolls and their cover as indicated at line 5-5 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail section of a drive pinion for the sorting rolls.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 4 showing certain 'features of the roll-cover construction. I Y' y liig. 8 is a vertical sectional View of a modll'ied form of distributor, and illustrating a novel method .of feeding and distributing thc grain. y y i Fig. 9 is a Yvertical sectional view of another' modification in the distributorconstruction.

liig. l() a bottom plan view of the distributor plate shownin Fig. S).

Fig. 11 is a Y detail vertical section on a `large sho ing the agitating means for the 4distributor plate. n

rhe machine illustrated in 'thedrawings is of the type comprising n and distributing hopper, or holder, for the grain around which are arranged radially eX- tending rolls geared together` in pairs and mounted for bodily revolution about lthe central vertical axis of the distributing'hopper. he hopper is provided with ports each leading to the trough formed by a pair vof'vco-acting sorting rolls and the grain escaping from the hopper through these ports is carried byk kside of the carrier at its central portion.

a central receiving y centrifugal force (arising from the revolution of the rolls) alongthe trough outwardly in radial direction andl discharged at the ends of the rolls into a convenient receptacle. The .sorting rolls are made with somewhat'yielding surfaces preferably of a rubber-like composition which tend to frictionally engage the rougher particles of grain and the irregularly shaped particles of dirt or small stones which may be fed over the rolls and this frictional Aengagement operates to feed these rougher particles between and through the pair of cooperating' rolls so that they can be collected separately from the smoother and more nearly perfect grain which is carriedfby centrifugal forceover the 'entire lengthof the sorting rolls and discharged radially at their ends. This general method isnotnow novel 1 and my invention consists in the' various specilic improvements in the devicesand their mode of use as hereinaftcr'set forth.

rReferring to Figure 1 it may be understood vthat the inachin'e'is supportcdupon suitable legs, l, extending from a stationary frame, 2, having a central verticalbearing, 3, in which the vertical shaft, l, is carried. rlhis shaft supports for rotation aA frame, orv carrier, 5, upon which is centrally Amounted the distributing hopper comprising a peripheral wall, k6, and a bottom, 7 The frame also supports a plurality of pairsA of sorting rolls, 8, and suitable journals. therefor., The carrier, 5,

is revolved by u'ieans of a horizontal drive' shaft, 9, having a bevel pinion, l0, meshing gear, ll, secured to the under stop pulley, 12, on `the "outer end ofthe shaft,

with a bevel '9, movidos for varyingthe speed of revolu tion by the usual method of shifting the belt,

not shown; If desired,t a steadying bearing,

of the 'y 13, may beprovided for the outer end shaft, 9,"beyo'nd the' pulley, l2. p

In the machine illustrated the carrier, 5,v is not rigidly secured to the shaft, d, butis-arranged to rotate thereonland said shaftgt, serves for independently transmitting Vrota'- tion to a mastergear, 14,'secured to its upper end. This vgearmeshes with a plurality of bevel pinions, l5, one ofrwhich is carried on .the inwardly extending end of the shaft of one of the two sorting'rolls which comprisel each pairpreviously mentioned. The remaining roll'of eac-h pair driven'fromv the first through spur pinions, y16'carrie'd by their respective shafts." Thus, the tworolls of each ywill. be

pair turn in opposite directions and toward each other at the upper side so as to t'eed between them the rough particles in the manner already described. Heretotore the gear, 141, has been rigidly mounted with respect to the frame, 2, remaining stationary while the carrier, revolved about it. rl`hus,

the speed imparted to the rolls, 8', was direct? lv proportional to their rate of bodily revolution;

lilly experience has shown that in o ierating upon various kinds of grain is desirable to ehangc the felation betweenthe speed of bodi ly rf-\\'olution and the speedot rotation ot the irting rolls so that some classes ot material may be subjected to more centrifugal torce 'than others and travel alongv 'the trou hs between the rolls more rapidly than oth without necessarily altering` the spoed at which the rolls turn and the resultin trictional hold which said rolls can obtain upon the grain. rlhere'fore, in. the present machine the master gear, lil, and its shaft, 1, are driven though a bevel gear7 17, and pinion, 18, by a shaft, 19, extending parallel to the shaft, 9, and connected; thereto by spur gears, 20, and 21, as seen in Figure l. By replacing` the gears, 2O and 21, with other gears ot dir ferent ratio it is evident that the speed of the shaft, 19, and the resulting speed of the master gear, lll, may be variedwith respect to the speed of shaft, 9, and the resulting speed of the carrier, 5, i, hich itdrives. Thus, the ul'- timate speed of rotation ot the pairs of sorting` rolls, 8, is of ditierentialnature and with the particular gearing` shown in Figure 1 it would be somewhat less than it the master gear, 11i, were stationarybecause vwith this gearing as shown the master gear, 14, will revolve in the same direction as the carrier, 5, and the resulting, dil'erence in their speeds than if the master gear stood It will be evident that other gear rati os ear sets may be substituted 'ter he gears., id 21, to ser 1re any desired rolas' speed ttor the master gear, 14, and tor the rolls themselves.

The steadying'` or outboard bearing 13, is mounted on a two-part standard, the upper part thereof, being reinovablyseeured to the lower part by the bolts showinthe lower part being stationarily secured tothe Ydoor by any suitable means that will insure it against displacement; and when it is desired to remove the be-aringpl, from the shaft il, for changing the gearsZO and 21 having first removed the pulley7 ,12, the bolts in the standard will be removed and it will foune that thek opstanding lower part or" the standard will not interfere with such changes, and that its being` stationarily secured. to the floor will provide means tor replacing the bearing 13, in its proper previous alignment.

As shown in Figure 1, the distributing hopper is provided with a conical bottom, .7, slopthe peripheral wail, 6, and at the same time hy virtue of the continuing revolution ot the surface/Z, such l@rain isl fairly well distribed over the surtace 1i the rate ot delivery` ut thereto is fairly uniform. rlhe wall, G, is formed with a plurality of ports, 2.2, (see Figure each leading to the trough formed between a pair ot the rolls, 8. ln the annular portion, E23, ott-lio casting which iiicludes the wall, o, the shatts of theV roll, 8, journaled and for lubricating; these shafts l e casting invludes oil-ducts, 24, formed in ribs, 25, interpof-/ed between the ports, 22, and placed in the angle between the wall, 6, and bottom, @utside the wall, 6, the ducts terminate in bosses, 26, and oil-cups, 2T, li'nounted'herein. rlhe ribs, 25, thus'serve as partitions to torni upwardly open pockets adjacent eaeh ot the 22, and in which the grain must col oet betere passing through said ports. rThe ibs, 255, are therefore conve ly rounded with their wall sloping towards the ports, Q2, to

assist in directing the grain through the latfA ter.`

laeh pair oi rolls, 8, is provided with a cover, 28, forme-d as a casting` and'hingedin position by means 'of pintle, 29, on a lug, 80, engagingY a suitable recess in the v wall, 6. Near the outerfend ot the rolls a second pintle, 31, on lug, 32, is carried in a lug', 33, on'the bearing casting, 311-, which is provided tor the outer ends oi' the roll shafts. A counter weight, 35, on the cover serves to hold it down and may also be used as a handle for raising the cover for inspeetion ot" the rolls at any time. indicated in Figure the hearing', 34e, is its upper side to conform "approximately to the shape of the cooperati h' so that r arii'ace, constitutes :in eil;- tension et the trough iorn'led by said rolls as turther indicated in Figure ll. 28, is shaped to extend over this portion, 3S, ot the bearing,` and terminates ust beyond the hearing in a downwardly extending` spout, Si", tor dischaiging the grain which successfully travels the 'full length of the trough.

is shown in Figure 4ithe shaft, 38, of each roll is reduced at 39 to foi-in the journal oarried in the bearing, Sil, and the yielding' rubber surface, 4G, terniinates at the shoiulder, 4:1, thus formed. 1Ti/Vasher, 42, oit metal, libre or other wear-resisting,` materiah is carried on the reduced end.y 39, a zinst the shoulder, 411, to receive the thrust .rted bythe centrifugal torce which ses troni the revolution of the carrier, 5,' and preferably the surface of the hearing, 811, which receives this reaction `is provided with depressions or poolrets, 4b, to hold a limited quant-rtv of luloricant.v The centrifugal toreo beine," suf- 'ricient to hold the washer, 42, irmly in conrEhe cover,r

' oh rho supporw 3;

rfi.

with ouwarclly ncliiiihg botom surfaces to :iiabief lhe iP rollingl tovmrcl anal through he por TWhen the speed orevol Solon is rather l row the mi oe irmerie l ihssrihutor plot ai tici, chine illusitrzoeo rois pllolml qrzle ply by a the usuel Chiller-ence iii speed h master ll', and the cari-:ier

s h radial ribs, 5974,

he hollom plate o, 60, or

r coi met Wi This mi philo whsle ribs, meiirrxly gere l:` rurale luge7 6L on rozztive eiigngeiieh with t l dahinl. lu grain soiling; machine comprising Sorting' rolls arimigecl in co-opere' pairsj erich pair forming o brougrhfor the hearing iheiilher igor the @lechage e rolle having ile upper surface zul? Ml fori' 'for i is i Continuation or.

sormn l5 irre C lf (Vl 1 n i Y zf-pproxiihae ther o JEhe morini-ings ih :i hem 7 il. member for lle or rolle haw @noe ing its upper mirri-ece :icio 'fo ming a. continua-tion of their trough to permit discharge ofi the grain tl'ic'reove'r.

In L grain sorting; machine as {leliied hi claim l, a housing or cover over Seial be; rihgg meiiher eeljacerr each pair of rolls to conM line :md guide the 5min in its; travel.

A 0' machine l. in a` grain sortuiw comprVIC airs of rolls each air 'lioi'himfr e. trough r lo the grain, anal-'means tending: lo cause l'he groin to move along' the rolls in said `'moug'l toward one enel thereof for di@chargej e, housing or covering extending over he; by ehpcilmeht hm oy merely pouring' loro gram ont a. ceiirzil rlietrlbul-iirg L f l l cover hzwiiig portions of ils suriiig toward lhe trough m the' (l1- -he move-Diehl ol the gram thereorigin @zich pair oi r riereor, lo oohl.

ls are vel, said therefrom i for". trohclihg d trough Y.

if, l g; 9 :i .ly 'tr il discharge uljec caring meirrler to roo gre therelfro n.

i Sorlin y a vinmrc L exija ehh each hear-ins; meiiihor re.- tlie grain herclroih and i collel'or if am upwardly operi receiving mouth over which the spoiii's ira- Vel as; the sorting rolls revolve.

lh a.

Sori-ing machil o which co1h- OA Y I- 1 prises rol e einem and Seraing rolls mouwU o llj,7 radially therein; means; lor rei l 1 merit ahim: a ve- L whereby i 1 tlrust dueto *me cen- Seigl softer i ocre receives 1h "srifuggzil action.

9. ln the con foregoing, elle oi having; lubricant poc byv the .vegherq.

lll, l priere en el e verti al l. iig rolls carried sub- J by sind roeirig element, wl'xerehy .they :ii-e cchtrrlwally thr ist encl- C) ici r o uit l rol S having lubricant pockwise ogni il `er e l hearings, said rolle1 co rising :an ori'er iivo'glzion o" relaive solo mmol@ 9, `le ourei en cl hmihal h iai-ing' for Sziil ets in the si and hard 1u al Washers; Whose ouer oliemeer le Suhfiehtiallv folie lull diameter of seid J l on jhe rr' l pm les orjournals at l oer end, covcru;

lf 0' the seid ende ofthe on seid lubricant" vrl. In e groin Sorrihg iiizichine comorising soiling' rolls errance-fl 1h (zo-operativo; pairs,

each p ir i" ruling zz rough for the' ji-ein ahl being mounted to revolve bodily about a' verthereto, aoeiirally disposed distributor" comprlsmgfan' upwardly open ahclvsuhstaii'izlly tical in eoproximeely rachel relfiion )ace around the journal l yzirir1g lll() in claim 11, aid feed surface having' the form of a plain con-e sloping downwardly fromv the centertoward said ports.

13. In a grain sorting machine as defined in claim 11, said feed surface being substantially fiat and terminating a shortdistance inwardly from the peripheral wall, and the ports in said wall being disposed below the level of said feed surface. f

14. In a grain sorting machine asdefined in claim 11, said feed surface beingsubstan-- tially flat and having downwarlly opening ports adjacent theperipheral wall, the ports of said wall being disposed below the level of said feed surface.

15. In the combination defined in claim 11, said feed surface being mounted to revolve in unison with the sorting rolls j 16. In the combination defined in claim 11, said feed surface being substantially flat but mounted for vertical movement and means for causing vertical reciprocation of said sur` face to agitate the material thereon and facilitate the feeding action.

17. In a grain sorting machine asdefined in claim 11, said feed surface being substantially fiat and terminating at a short distance inwardly from the peripheral wall, the ports in said wall being disposed below the level of said feed surface; the annular space between the feed surface and the peripheral wall being divided by partitions into upwardly open pockets with one port of the peripheral wall leading from each pocket.

18. In a grain sorting machine as defined in claim 11, said feed surface being substantially flat and terminating at a. short distance inwardly from the peripheral wall, the ports in said wall being' disposed'below the level of said feed surface; the actual space between the feed surface and the peripheral wall being divided by partitions into upwardly open pockets adjacent the respective ports, said partitions presenting upwardly convex surifaces sloping toward adjacent pockets for feeding material into the poclrets by gravity when it lodges on the partitions;

19. In a grain sorting machine comprising sorting rolls arranged in cosoperating pairs, eachv pair forming a trough for the grain, and a carrier for the rolls mounted to revolve them bodily about a vertical axis in approxi-r mately radial relation thereto, said rolls being geared togetherin pairs and one roll of each pair having a shaft projecting toward the vertical axis of revolution and a pinion on said shaft, a master gear `centrally mounted to mesh with said pinions, a shaft for driving the carrier, a shaft for driving the master gear, and intermeshing spur gears, 'one on the driving shaft of the carrier and one on the driving shaft of the master gear, whereby both shafts are revolved simultaneously and from the same source. y

20. rIn the combination defined in claim 19, said intermeshing spur gears being interchangeable and replaceable, thereby afford# ing means for causing theshafts associated therewith, tovary their relativerotational speeds. j l i 21. In the combination defined in claim 19, said inter-meshing spur gears being located outside of the 1general frame of the machine, one of said driving shafts extending beyond the said intermeshing gears for mountinga primary driving pulley thereon, and an outboard bearing for said extending shaft comprising a two-'part standard having the two parts bolted intermediate its height, the lower part being stationarily secured to the floor in unchangeable relation to the said etxending shaft, the upper 'aart having affixed toit a bearing for the sha ts, whereby the primary driving pulley and the intermeshing gears may be removed without disturbing the alignment of said outboard bearing.

22. In the combination defined in claim 19, each of said pinions having a key or equivalent rmeans Vfor impartingrotation toits shaft but being' freely slidable thereon in radial direction inwardly upon disengagement of.

the master gear from the pinions.

23. In the combinationV defined in claim 19, each of said pinions having a key or equivalent means for imparting rotation to its shaft, but being clearly slidable thereon in radial direction inwardly upon disengage-l ment of the master gear from the pinion, each shaft having a shoulder limiting outward movement of its ypinionvat a position for proper meshing of the pinion with the master gear.

24. vIn a grain sorting machine comprising sorting rolls arranged in co-operating pairs, each pair forming a trough for the grain and being mounted to revolve about a. vertical axis in approximately radial relation thereto, acentrally disposed distributor comprising a substantially unobstructed circular feed surface also mounted to revolve about said axis and within an upstanding peripheral wall having feed ports, leading respectively to the pairs of sorting rolls.

25. In a grain sorting machine as defined in claim 1, a housing or cover extending over thetrough formed by each pair of rolls, said cover having formed on the lower surface thereof, a series ofabruptly ending inclined planes, said planes converging toward the direction of travel of the grain along the rolls. f

26. In a grain sorting machine as defined in kclaim 1, a housing or cover Iextending over the trough formed by each pair of rolls, said cover having formed on the lower surface thereof, a series of abruptly ending inclined planes, the inclination of thesaid plenos; 'l e ingiclownward -toward the direction of travel of the groin along the rolls.

2T. n a grain sorting niaehine comprising sorting rolls :ir-ranged in eo-operaiing pairs 'forming rtroughs for the grain and a carrier Vfor Jehe rolle mounted -to revolve llhein bodily about a verienl exis in zipproXiniL-ely rrolial relation rhereo, a master v gear centrally mounted ,with respect io `the carrier and Coopera-ring; genre on :the rolls thro-ugh which. said inasiior gear o ierziies; *eo yC-,lrive 'lhein about their own nXee,-z1, power nieniber for driving the carrier and operaii-ve eonneel'ions there frein Ato `the n'mser gen-r, said ope-rafting 'eenneetions including speecl-elienging gear-ing :for altering the Speed -re-tio between jc-he rolle and tlie eer-rior.

528. ln a grain sorting nmehine eoinpr-is-ing sorting rolls arranged in eo-operning pairs forming troughs for v'the and :i oai-rior for the rolls inonnteel 13o revolve vrhein `bodily about a vertical axis in appr i-inaftely radial relation thereto, a innerer centrally operating;

.of i'he machine.

mounted Wie'h respeelto the Carrier and .eo-

V fc-rs on the rolls lthroughwhich fl .mooier lgear operates to drive .rhein about their own e, a, drive Shaft for the cerfrier and e Separate drive shaft for J[he master geen", together with speed varying `Connec- J:tions between said shafts for altering the' speed ratio Ibeiveen Jche rolls and the carrier.

9,9. In ihe combination 4cleined in eleini 119,

seid ineernieshing5' Spor gears being loeetefl" onlenle of .the general freine of machine,

whereby they are accessible for eh ythe speed retro between .the rolle and the (terrier vf'ihon disturbing any interior Jneeheniem 80. In .heeoinbinntion delinefl iznfelain 2., said Speed changing gearing 'being' eoeeesib'le of the machine Without .disturbing the intenoe-)enen v. Jonson. 

